THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

CROSBY, Texas — A tip led animal rescue personnel to about 1,000 dogs, rabbits, hamsters and birds in dirty, cramped conditions in northeast Harris County.

Meera Nandlal, with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said the home in the Crosby area was raided Thursday night.

Nandlal says the animals, allegedly for sale to pet stores, were found in cages and left in storage sheds. She says many did not have adequate food and water. (more…)

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

OCALA, Fla. — Hundreds of dead animals have been found at an Ocala-area home.

An official at the Marion County Animal Center says 348 dead animals, mostly just skeletal remains, were found across the property, as well as in cages, in feed bags and in plastic bags stuffed in the owner’s freezer. Another 375 animals were found alive but malnourished.

The live animals included 151 dogs and 156 birds as well as cattle, tortoises, cats, hamsters, sheep, horses, rabbits and lizards. (more…)

PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE

Police have been assigned to investigate the case of the spray-painted chickens.

A Carnegie Mellon University police detective has been assigned to help investigate the discovery on campus of nine malnourished farm chickens, some apparently spray-painted, the school says.

The Thursday statement came as an upstate New York wildlife sanctuary offered to take the birds in, said Beth McMaster, a wildlife rehabilitator on whose Butler County farm the birds have been receiving care since they were discovered over the weekend. (more…)

THE WASHINGTON POST

One of the many transitions thrust on freshman going off to college is saying good-bye to the family pet. But, guess what: Although college dorms have traditionally been known as pet-free zones, a handful are now allowing certain animals in selected residence halls to give students a more homey feeling about their living space. (more…)

KRISHA WILLIAMS TURBEVILLE
RESCUE IN THE ROCK

I’ll share mine with you if you share yours with me – not that I haven’t already told you all about my cats.

When Annabel and I were living alone in an apartment in Northwest Arkansas, she loved to go outside and had a little kitty door in the window so that – for a couple hours – she could come and go as she pleased. (There wasn’t any traffic because it was very late, and she rarely strayed far.)

One night she pops in the window, and I noticed something in her mouth – something furry … and alive! She deposited it right behind the couch, meowing at me for approval. (more…)

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

It’s an Arkansas bird story that at first might be hard to swallow.

A pair of conjoined barn swallows, attached at the hip by skin and possibly muscle tissue, will be sent to the Smithsonian Institution for study and examination, Arkansas wildlife officials said Friday. If confirmed, officials say it could prove to be an incredibly rare find — a set of conjoined twins among birds.

(more…)

KRISHA WILLIAMS TURBEVILLE
RESCUE IN THE ROCK

LITTLE ROCK – As a puppy, Amber broke her hind leg. Without treatment, it healed on its own, but she would forever have one leg shorter than the other causing her to limp the rest of her life.

Animal Services of Little Rock found the abused dog and brought her to the shelter, Little Rock Animal Village, where Amber met Tracy Roark, manager of the agency.

Six months later, after treatment and “having somebody show they cared for her,” Amber became a different dog, friendly and active. She now works alongside Tracy and goes home with him every night. (more…)